In a thrilling turn of events at the WM Phoenix Open, Hideki Matsuyama has managed to secure a slim one-shot advantage after the completion of the third round. Hot on his heels is England's Matt Fitzpatrick, who is just two strokes behind and ready to make a significant push as the final day approaches.
Matsuyama ended the day with an impressive three-under-par score of 68, although he narrowly missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, which could have extended his lead further.
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At 33 years old, Matsuyama has previously clinched the Phoenix title in both 2016 and 2017. Earlier in the day, he was tied with fellow Japanese golfer Ryo Hisatsune but took the lead when Hisatsune stumbled with a bogey on the 18th, finishing just a shot behind.
Joining Hisatsune in a tie for second place are Nicolai Hojgaard, Si Woo Kim, and Maverick McNealy, all vying for their chance at victory.
Fitzpatrick, sitting at 11-under-par, is also in contention, alongside American golfers Michael Thorbjornsen, Jake Knapp, and Akshay Bhatia, who are all tied at the same score.
Current world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recorded a solid round of 67, placing him five shots off Matsuyama's lead. Scheffler is pursuing his 21st PGA Tour victory and hopes to add a second win in 2026, following his success at January's American Express (https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12040/13499037/scottie-scheffler-wins-20th-pga-tour-title-at-the-american-express-finishing-four-clear-after-final-round-66). He draws inspiration from his performance four years ago when he came from nine shots back to win.
"I've always believed that finding your groove during tournament week can be challenging, but yesterday I discovered a slight adjustment in my grip that really helped secure my hold on the club," Scheffler shared with PGATour.com on Saturday. "I hit the ball much better today. I felt somewhat lost out there at times yesterday, but today was different; I felt much more in control of my game. You can definitely see that reflected in my cleaner scorecard today."
Don’t miss out on the excitement! Tune in for the final round of the WM Phoenix Open, airing live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 5 PM on Sunday, with coverage continuing on Sky Sports Main Event from 8 PM. You can also enjoy the action contract-free on NOW. (https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilcskysportsnc_articlelink)
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